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Current News
Andrew Dipper: New publication and article in the upcoming publication of Strad Magazine March 2013 Andrew Dipper has just finished the 1st translation into English of the Italian manuscript "Librem Segreti de Buttegha", Secrets of the Workshop. He has been working on it for the last 20 years. The manuscript is a fascinating and useful document dating from mid 1700's on Northern Italian violin design methods. This translation includes Dipper's notes and commentary on the design methods. The pre-publication price of $120.00 is available until April 1st, 2013. Please click here to download the form to order the publication.The Strad is published an article about this manuscript in the March, 2013 issue. Mary West Solo Competition November 2012 Givens Violins sponsors the Grand Prize plus three other prizes for MNSOTA chapter of ASTA. The finalists recital was held November 11. The winners of this competition were: Rosalind Leavell (Grand Prize), Isabel Pitcher (Elementary Division), Brandon Duffy (Intermediate Division), and Alastair Witherspoon (Junior Division). We are pleased to sponsor this important competition that celebrates the accomplishments of the young players of Minnesota. New Minnesota Orchestra Musicians Website July 2012 The Minnesota Orchestra is one of the finest orchestras in the world at this time. We at Givens Violins feel very fortunate to be able to hear their inspiring concerts. We want the musicians to know that the community appreciates and supports them and their dedication to excellence during this time of contract negotiations. Please join us in becoming a fan of their Facebook page www.facebook.com/MusiciansOfTheMinnesotaOrchestra or visit their website www.minnesotaorchestramusicians.org for updates. Andrew Dipper featured in Strad Magazine June 2012 Andrew Dipper is featured in the June 2012 Strad Magazine with the article "My Favorite Instrument". Andrew's favorite instrument is a fractional-sized violin by Jacob Stainer, 1661. This instrument is in the Yale University Musical Instrument Collection. Young People's Symphony Concert Association (YPSCA) Winners Givens Violins would like congratulate the winners of this year's YPSCA Competition. This year's $600 Givens Violins Prize winner was 17 year old violist Xiaohan Sun from Shattuck-St. Mary's, who played Der Schwanendreher by Paul Hindemith. 
Givens Violins prize: Xiaohan Sun Minnesota Orchestra Crescendo Project event November 2011 We were pleased to host the Minnesota Orchestra's Crescendo Project at our shop on November 16, 2011, which 55 Crescendo Project members attended. We set up learning stations to demonstrate violin making with Doug Lay and Michael Adams of the Minnesota Orchestra; restoration with Andrew Dipper; and violin history and listening to fine violins with Claire Givens and Peter McGuire of the Minnesota Orchestra. It was a great opportunity to work with young symphony enthusiasts and share our expertise. Mary West Solo Competition November 2011 Givens Violins sponsors the Grand prize plus three other category prizes for MNSOTA chapter of ASTA. This event was held at Lake Harriet United Methodist Church in November. The winners of this competition were: Angelika Strub (Grand Prize), Katia Tesarcyk (Elementary Division), Julian Maddox (Intermediate Division), and Jason Shu and Anna Humphrey (Junior Division). We are pleased to sponsor this important event. . Andrew Dipper contributes to the book on Giuseppe Fiorini October 2011 Andrew Dipper contributed an article and made the English translation for the book on Giuseppe Fiorini (1861-1934) entitled Between Bologna and Stradivari. The European Journeys of Giuseppe Fiorini. The article "Fiorini and the Modern School of Violin Making" was written by Andrew Dipper. This book was first published in Europe in 2011 by Edizioni Novecento with the Committee for Giuseppe Fiorini. Andrew Dipper featured in Strings Magazine October 2011 Andrew Dipper is featured in the November issue of Strings Magazine. This is a nicely written profile on Andrew Dipper and his career in Restoration entitled Tales of the Reconstructions. The article is available at www.allthingsstrings.com. Antiques Roadshow June 2011 Claire Givens and Andrew Dipper have been musical instrument appraisers for Antiques Roadshow for eleven years and have just taped segments in El Paso that may be on the upcoming 2012 season. To view their appraisals visit www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow. Click on "search appraisals" above the search bar and enter Claire Givens or Andrew Dipper into this field. Keep your eye on the Antiques Roadshow site in the upcoming months for more appraisals by Claire Givens and Andrew Dipper. Minnesota Sinfonia Young Artists Competition Givens Violins has been the sponsor of this competition since 1996 and we would like to extend our congratulations to John Belk, senior division winner of the 2011 Minnesota Sinfonia Young Artist Competition and the Givens Violins prize of $500. John will be performing the first movement of the Haydn Cello Concerto in D major with the Minnesota Sinfonia on Friday, July 22 at 7:30 pm at the Lake Harriet Bandshell. ASTA Convention 2011 Claire Givens and Heather McAllister exhibited instruments and accessories at the recent National ASTA Conference in Kansas City, MO March 17-19. They enjoyed the opportunity to meet new players and teachers and to visit with our customers. Givens Violins was proud to be a bronze sponsor at this year's convention. We look forward to seeing all of you in Atlanta, Georgia next year. 
Givens Violins Booth at ASTA Young People's Symphony Concert Association (YPSCA) Winners Givens Violins would like congratulate the winners of this year's YPSCA Competition. This year's grand prize winner is 16 year old Pianist from Blaine, Austin Frohmader. The two 2nd place winners were: Luther Warren on violin and Xiaohan Sun on Viola. We are pleased that cellist John Belk was awarded the $600 Givens Violins Prize. The McLellan prize of $500 went to Yiqiu Chen on cello. The $100 awards went to violinists Sedra Bistodeau and Nora Scheller. 
Givens Violins prize: John Belk Claire Givens Appointment to the VSA Board of Directors Claire Givens was recently voted onto the Violin Society of America's Board of Directors. She is very pleased to be apart of this organization that plays a critical role in the lives of violin and bow makers. Andrew Dipper to speak at the Violin Society of America Convention Andrew Dipper will be speaking at the upcoming 38th annual Convention of the Violin Society of America which will be held in Cleveland, Ohio this year. His lecture will be on Thursday, November 11th at 2:15pm and the topic will be: "Decoration for Kings: A photographic and technical analysis of the Amati Family painted instruments". If you will be at the VSA convention this year, please join us for Andrew Dipper's lecture. Iowa String Teachers Association (ISTA) On October 9, 2010, the Iowa String Teachers Association held its second bi-annual statewide Solo Competition at the University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls. Eight students participated in the competition, which was hosted and organized by solo competition chair Julia Bullard, past-president of ISTA. The Givens Violins award winners are Hannah Howland of Cedar Falls, IA and Alan Y. Zhou of Ankeny, IA. Hannah Howland is a violin student of Frederick Halgedahl, and will be forwarded to the ASTA Solo Competition semifinal round. Alan Zhou is a violin student of Mahlon Darlington, and will be forwarded to the ASTA Solo Competition semifinal round. 
Winners and Judges: Jonathan Girard, Herine Coetzee Koshak, Alan Zhou, Andrew Altmaier, Amy Pirtle, Anibal Dos Santos, Hannah Howland Cremona Violin Making Exhibit October 2010 Our opening night in Cowles Conservatory at the Walker Art Center was an exciting and beautiful evening. We were delighted to have had 120 guests at this event. It was a pleasure to see old friends and customers. We were pleased to have placed a number of modern Cremonese exhibit instruments with new owners. We also took the opportunity to acquire some of our favorites to add to our stock. Paul Nixdorf took fabulous photographs of the opening night. 
Cremona Violin Making Exhibit 2010 Violinist Chad Hoopes May 2010 Givens Violins would like to congratulate the incredibly dedicated and talented violinist Chad Hoopes on his outstanding performance with the Minnesota Orchestra in May 2010, and his many other well-deserved successes in his musical career thus far. We were thrilled to see Chad in May when he visited the shop to say hello and to have one of his bows rehaired. In addition to his indisputable musical talent, Chad is delightfully personable and engaging, and always wonderful to work with. A native of the Minneapolis area, Chad now lives in Ohio and is a student at the Cleveland Institute of Music. During the years he was in Minnesota, we had the enormous pleasure of helping Chad and his two sisters, a talented violinist and violist in their own right, with their instrument and bow needs. At age 15, Chad Hoopes has performed with venerable musical institutions around the world. He is represented by IMG Artists. In April 2008, Chad was awarded first prize in the Young Artists Division of the Yehudi Menuhin International Violin Competition. In July, Chad will be performing Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto with the San Francisco Symphony. The audience is in for a treat. 
Claire Givens and Chad Hoopes during his May visit to Givens Violins Henry IV, Brothers Amati 1595 Violin May 2010 Givens Violins is pleased to have sold the Henry IV Brothers Amati, Cremona 1595 to the National Music Museum. The violin will be the cover story of the October issue of the Strad Magazine with an extensive article with many photographs written by Claire Givens and Andrew Dipper. This violin will soon be on display at the Museum with a special inaugural event planned for September 24th in celebration of the 400th anniversary of the funeral of Henry IV. It is the only violin which is decorated on the back with the armorials of Henry IV and lettered in gold leaf around the ribs in Latin, "Henry IV by the grace of God King of France and Navarre ". From South Dakota Public Radio: South Dakota Digest interview regarding the Henry IV Amati violin. 
Pamela Frank Master Class March 2010 Givens Violins sponsored the Pamela Frank Master Class at the MacPhail Center for Music, March 17, 2010. Pamela Frank's insistence on examining the composers' intentions and infinite capacity to articulate and demonstrate complex musical content was inspiring to all of us in the audience. It allowed for dramatic transformations among the participants. The players included: Nora Scheller, Sedra Bistodeau, JiHye Shin, and Sarah Grimes. We are grateful for Pamela Frank's continued interest in working with the MacPhail Center for Music. ASTA Convention 2010 February 2010 
Jeffrey Solow, Claire Givens and Cornelia Watkins at the 2010 ASTA Conference in Santa Clara, CA Claire Givens and Heather McAllister exhibited instruments and accessories at the recent National ASTA Conference in Santa Clara, CA, February 17-20. They enjoyed the opportunity to meet new players and teachers and visit with our customers. Givens Violins was a bronze sponsor and a sponsor of an industry showcase presentation on playing issues that could lead to injury. This presentation was organized by Cornelia Watkins, author of Rosindust, Laurie Scott and Barry Green. Andrew Dipper named Conservator to the Yale University Collection of Musical Instruments October 2009 Andrew Dipper has accepted the invitation to serve as Consultant Conservator to the Yale University Collection of Musical Instruments. Andrew Dipper, Vice-President of Claire Givens Violins, will serve as Consultant Conservator of string instruments. A renowned luthier and scholar, Mr. Dipper has performed restoration and conservation work for many of the world's foremost public and private musical instrument collections, including the Metropolitan Museum in New York; the Federal Musical Instrument Museum of Berlin; the National Music Museum; and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. Andrew Dipper speaks at the Yale School of Music September 2009 Andrew will present a talk entitled "A Visit to Stradivari's House: His Workshop, Tools, Commerce and Associates", on Thursday, September 17, 2009 at 5:30pm, at the Yale Collection of Musical Instruments. Using information from a late 19th century traveler's reminiscences of his walk through Stardivari's house, a first floor plan drawn before the house was torn down in the early 20th century, plus a previously unknown photograph found at a London auction in the 1980's, Andrew Dipper made a model of Stradivari's house, researched his art collection and come to conclusions about the house in which he worked. Antiques Roadshow June 2009 Claire Givens and Andrew Dipper have been appraisers on Antiques Roadshow for ten years. To view their appraisals visit www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow. Click on "search appraisals" above the search bar and enter Claire Givens or Andrew Dipper into this field. Keep your eye on the Antiques Roadshow site in the upcoming months for more appraisals by Claire Givens and Andrew Dipper. Max Lundgren and the Minnesota Sinfonia April 2009 Max Lundgren, this year's winner of the Claire Givens Violins Prize of the Minnesota Sinfonia's Young Artist Competition, will also be featured performing on Friday, April 24, 7:00pm at First Covenant Church in St. Paul and Sunday, April 26, 4:00pm, Temple Israel Synagogue in Minneapolis. Artaria String Quartet March 2009 
Artaria String Quartet The proceeds from the Midori recital in Dawson, Minnesota which Givens Violins helped sponsor in 2007, were used for a three month residency by the Artaria String Quartet of St. Paul. In January 2009 the Artaria established three quartets in Dawson (pop.1750) and coached them over a three month period ending with a concert of the three student quartets and the Artaria Quartet in March. Andrew Dipper and Claire Givens were pleased to be present for both concerts and to witness the level of dedication and inspiration created by these events. American String Teachers Assocation (ASTA) National Conference March 2009
Givens Violins will be traveling to Atlanta, Georgia to attend the ASTA National Conference. ASTA is an organization that enriches people's lives by supporting string and orchestra teaching and playing needs. Givens Violins is proud to be a Bronze Sponsor of ASTA 2009 National conference. If you are in Atlanta, March 19-21, please stop by our booth #409. We will have a nice selection of instruments on hand. For more information about ASTA, visit www.astweb.com. Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies (GTCYS) Concert February 2009 We are pleased to sponsor GTCYS' "Young Solosit s in the Spotlight" concert. The concert will be held on Sunday, March 8 at 2:00 p.m., Ted Mann Concert Hall, University of Minnesota, West Bank. GTCYS' 2008-09 Concerto Competition winners Greta Bauer, violin, and Andy Lesser, cello, will perform. We are very pleased to have found Andy Lesser his Michael Scoggins cello last year. Tickets are $13.00 standard admission, $7.00 for children and seniors, and children under four are free. Tickets may be purchased in advance at 612.870.7611 or at the door. For more information about GTCYS, visit www.gtcys.org. MN Sinfonia Young Artist Competition January 2009 The Young Artist String Competition will take place at 12:00 p.m. on March 15, 2009 at the University of St. Thomas Music Building. The winner of the senior division will receive the Claire Givens Violin Prize of $500. For more information about the Minnesota Sinfonia, visit www.mnsinfonia.org. Young People's Symphony Concert Association (YPSCA) Winners March 2009 Congratulations to Max Lundgren for winning the YPSCA Competition sponsored by the Minnesota Orchestra. Max acquired his cello by Daniele Scolari, Cremona, 2006 from us and it had a glorious sound that was refined, expressive and powerful. He will be performing with the Minnesota Orchestra next year as part of the grand prize. We are pleased that cellist John Belk was awarded the $600 Givens Violins Prize at the YPSCA Competition Finals. MacPhail 2009 Master Class March 2009 Claire Givens Violins is pleased to sponsor the final 2009 MacPhail String Master Class. The class is $5.00 general admission at the door and free to MacPhail families. The Master Class will take place in Antonello Hall at MacPhail Center for Music, 501 South 2nd Street in downtown Minneapolis. For more information about MacPhail, visit www.macphail.org.
MacPhail Honor Awarded to CGV Claire Givens Violins has been awarded the first annual MacPhail Center for Music Duet Award. The award was given to both an individual - or couple - and an organization that has been of extraordinary service to MacPhail in the past fiscal year. This year the individual/couple award went to Kathy and Charlie Cunningham. The award was introduced to honor those who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in terms of advocacy, service and giving to MacPhail. Givens Violins became MacPhail's first corporate sponsor in 1994. Our shop is honored to receive this award and is proud to sponsor MacPhail's excellent contributions to string education. Mary West Solo Competition Givens Violins supported the MNSOTA's Mary West Solo Competition by sponsoring the $250.00 grand prize and providing other winners with three $75.00 gift cards. This year's winners include grand prize winner Zhou Long,cello, and gift card winners Derek Huang, violin, Sedra Bistodeau, violin, and Parker Tope, cello. Baroque Bridge Course November 2008 Andrew Dipper, Vice President of Givens Violins and President of Dipper Restorations, taught a two day course on the History of the Baroque Bridge in Cremona Italy this fall. Using examples of early bridges by Stradivari, he traced the history of the design and set-up of violin bridges from 1560 to 1830. He was pleased to have 100 violin makers and students attend his in-depth course at the Cremona Chamber of Commerce. Cremona Exhibit Participation November 2008 Andrew Dipper, Vice President of Givens Violins and President of Dipper Restorations, was invited to participate in the Faculty of the Cremona International School of Violin Making 1938-2008 exhibit at The International Violin Making School in Cremona, Italy in celebration of its 70th anniversary. He made a Viola D'Amore using the plans left by Stradivari. This is the first time that these particular planns of Stradivari have been used to make a Viola D'Amore. A very handsome catalog was produced with this exhibit in which his Stradivari model Viola Da Gamba was pictured. The exhibit ran from October 2 - October 19, 2008. AFVBM Member April 2008 Andrew Dipper, Vice President of Givens Violins and President of Dipper Restorations, was accepted as a full member of the American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers (AFVBM) at the bi-annual conference in Seattle. Highlights of this event included a magnificent exhibition of Cremonese instruments from the period 1730 to 1750 including Guarneri del Gesu "King Joseph" and "Lord Wilton" violins, Stradivari's "Sassoon" and three instruments made by Carlo Bergonzi. Bows exhibited were by the makers Maire, Pecatte, Simon and Henry. Experts from all corners of the world gave lectuers and participated in panel discussions. Andrew Dipper was honored to deliver a lecture on Stradivari's House A Sad Loss for Our Shop April 2008 We at Givens Violins are very sad to report the passing of Lupot, our faithful Brittany Spaniel "security guard". During her twelve years at the shop, she was loved by all and is fondly remembered for brightening our days. Her absence is felt by many of our customers and friends and all of us who work here. MN Sinfonia Young Artist Competition April 2008 Cellist Tina Jung, first place winner for the senior division, received the Claire Givens Violin Prize of $500. She also performed Max Bruch's Kol Nidre during the fifth set of Great Winter Festival concerts. For more information about the Minnesota Sinfonia, visit www.mnsinfonia.org. 2008 Saint Paul String Quartet Competition May 2008 Claire Givens fully supported the Arianna String Quartet as this year's Final Round jury for the St. Paul String Quartet Competition. There were six exceptional young quartets this year from across the Midwest and our very own Melanzana Quartet won the Bronze medal (Evan Vicic, violin; Katherine Williamson, violin; Erin Gallagher, viola; Paul Leger, cello) The first prize went to the Viaggio String Quartet (Eric Gatz, violin; Anthony Bracewell, violin; Stephanie Price, viola; Ken Kuboto, cello) and second prize to Polaris (Andrea Jarrett, violin; Vincent Meklis, violin; Matthew Lipman, viola; Gabriel Cabezas, cello). For more information about the competition, visit www.spsqc.artaria.us. Givens Sponsored Midori/McDonald Concert November 2007
Antiques Roadshow February 2008 To view an Antique Roadshow appraisals by Andrew Dipper and Claire Givens, visit www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow, click on "search appraisals" above the search bar, and enter the name Andrew Dipper. Keep your eye on this site for more appraisals by Claire Givens and Andrew Dipper will be available in the coming months. August 2007 Claire appraised a 1924 Martin Nebel violin when she and Andrew Dipper went to Las Vegas for the 2008 Antiques Road Show. December 2006 Andrew appraised a French Court Harp by Naderman, c. 1776 when he and Claire Givens went to Tucson to appraise instruments for the 2006 season of Antiques Roadshow. March 2004 See Claire on the second episode of Antiques Roadshow's visit to San Francisco. Claire appraises a 19th c. violin by Hippolyte & Pierre Silvestre of Lyon. July 2003 Watch for the Hot Springs, Arkansas installment. Both Andrew and Claire taped segments. January 2001 The 2002 Season Tucson Installment I is an appraisal by Claire of a Carl Becker 1930s violin worth at least $25,000. Assorted Items March 2007
Gift Cards Now Available January 2007 Givens Violins gift cards are the perfect gift for any string player. Cards are available in the shop or by phone order, 800.279.4323. Rare Books For Sale January 2007 Click here to view a list of rare violin books for sale. The books are on display at Givens Violins. 20 Years With Givens Violins January 2007 Workshop Manager Douglas Lay celebrated 20 years with Givens Violins. Doug has been instrustrumental in creating and maintaining the high standards that have become business as usual for Givens Violins. We look forward to another 20 years with Doug. Pernambuco Conservation Efforts December 2005 Givens Violins is pleased to be a member of the International Pernambuco Conservation Initiative. We donate $1.00 from every rehair to help the IPCI preserve and protect Brasil's Pernambuco trees. We thank all of the bow makers in the IPCI who have put so much effort into this project. The Strad - History Man Be sure to check out the article, "History Man", in the February 2002 issue of The Strad magazine. It is an article about our very own Andrew Dipper and Dipper Restorations. Visit to Washington DC The Staff of Givens Violins visited the collections of violins at the Library of Congress and at the Smithsonian in Washington DC. At the Library of Congress, we had the pleasure of seeing and playing the 1733 Guarneri del Gesu violin of Fritz Kreisler. We were also able to play the very famous "Betts" Antonio Stradivari of 1704. At the Smithsonian, curator Gary Sturm showed us four of Stradivari's decorated violins including: The Sunrise, The Hellier, The Ole Bull and the Greffuhle. It was a remarkable opportunity to have a hands-on experience studying some the finest instruments in existence. Microfiber Cleaning Cloths Givens Violins offers microfiber cleaning cloths. These cloths are state-of-the-art in their ability to pick up loose rosin and other particles from your instrument. The fibers that make up the cloth are 0.050 denier (less than 1/100 the thickness of a human hair). This micro size combined with the shape of the fibers imbue the cloths with a truly unique cleaning ability. Pick up yours today for only $5.60. Anderson Music Stands If you're looking for a music stand that combines function with beauty stop in and see our selection of Anderson Music Stands. The stands are made of wood and brass and come in a variety of finishes. For more information visit the Anderson Music Stand website. Anderson Music Stand. |
